In early February 2 tiny peachicks hatched at my place.
Pea 1 and Pea 2 look up to their mum about 20000 times a day.
In early February 2 tiny peachicks hatched at my place.
Pea 1 and Pea 2 look up to their mum about 20000 times a day.
After trying, waiting, and sitting eggs all summer long for a decade, my peahen has finally produced two fledgling peachicks.
The 20-year-old tree is high and wide and shady. Whenever I feel sad I look up through the lacy leaves or stomp all over the carpet of purple tubes decorating the grass.
I thought he might like to be in a real tree for a change.
I popped him up into the decorations.
The first time, he was fine.
He didn't want to get off my shoulder at first; then liked it.
I took some photos and left him alone.
But, the second time all chirping stopped.
That was unusual.
When I saw him again, his beak was green.
He'd been eating the Christmas Tree.
He looked sick.
It was some strange compulsion, he couldn't stop.
He refused to hop on my finger, or get out of the tree.
Climbing higher into the center.
He went out of my range.
He wasn't being an Angel.
A bit of a devil bird really.
I wasn't getting on a ladder.
Or falling off one.
I've just had major knee surgery.
It got later. And darker.
I urged the little blighter to come back with food offerings.
Nah, he looked sicker.
I stood beneath the tree for 30 minutes while he munched.
It was mindless, like me with chocolates over Christmas.
I was wondering if pine resin was toxic.
He still hadn't chirped.
Given his name, of course, he tried to get up high.
Angels always belong at the top of the Christmas Tree.
Angel almost choked-one pine needle too many.
He let out a weak noise.
A bird version of 'ick'.
I wasn't sure if he'd live through 2023.
I'm glad.
Happy New Year from me.
Plus, a big hello from Angel.
The only pet ever who tried to eat a Christmas Tree.
And, my prettiest decoration.
You rarely see something so enchanting it seems like an illusion, but that’s what happened last spring.